Sharjah24 – AFP: Japan's government said Thursday it plans a new virus state of emergency stretching throughout the Olympics, as reports said organisers could bar fans from almost all events at the Games.
With just two weeks until the July 23 opening ceremony, coronavirus infections are rising in the capital, and the spread of the more infectious Delta variant has spooked officials.
The rising cases threaten to derail plans to let up to 10,000 local fans into Olympic venues, and could mean Tokyo 2020 is the first ever Games held behind closed doors.
"The number of new cases continues to rise in Tokyo," warned Japan's minister in charge of the virus response Yasutoshi Nishimura on Thursday.
"As the movement of people increases, the more infectious Delta variant now accounts for around 30 percent of cases. This is expected to expand further," he added.
The virus emergency, which is expected to become official later Thursday, will be far looser than the harsh lockdowns seen in other parts of the world.
Alcohol will be banned at bars and restaurants, which will have to close by 8pm, and events such as concerts and conferences will have to end by 9pm.
And crucially, spectators at events will be capped at 5,000 people or 50 percent venue capacity, whichever is less.
"We hope to contain the spread of infections by placing Tokyo under a state of emergency," Nishimura said, warning that hospitalisations were rising among people in their forties and fifties.
The decision puts pressure on Olympic organisers who are scrambling to make a final ruling on how many local fans, if any, will be in the stands at the Games.
Several Japanese media outlets said Thursday that organisers were now likely to bar spectators from all competition venues in Tokyo and three surrounding areas.
Tokyo 2020 organisers are expected to meet with local and national government officials and the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees as early as Thursday evening to make the key decision.
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